Good morning, Morgantown.

Morgantown tourism officials are rallying local businesses (to display welcome signage) as they prepare for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament if selected to host first-round games at Hope Coliseum from March 19-22.

Official bids will be announced Sunday.

Mary Ann Samyn, an acclaimed author and professor, will read selections from her new book The Return from Calvary at 7:30 p.m. March 26 at the Downtown Library Milano Reading Room.

A book signing will follow.

WVU’s Fire Service Extension announced that the West Virginia State Fire Academy, located at 2600 Old Mill Road, is launching a two-semester firefighting class to help tackle volunteer shortages.

The 120-hour program teaches skills to fight fires and provide first aid so volunteers can serve emergencies across 48 states.

The House passed Senate Bill 890, which would let county schools replace 180 days of instruction with 954 hours and change policy details—like renaming leave days to educator focus days—with Senate approval still pending.

If signed, districts will begin these changes for the 2027—2028 school year.

WVU Zoom will require Single Sign On (SSO) for access beginning Apr.

15 as part of a move to enhance security; faculty, staff, and students should verify they sign in with SSO on every platform to avoid login issues.

Evansdale Crossing will add a new testing center (125 workstations) and shared Career Services after planned renovations.

Construction will begin later this semester so that the center is ready by the end of summer to serve students this fall.

United Hospital Center celebrated the expansion of its rapid care services at Elkins Corridor Medical Center last Thursday.

The one-stop care center (opened in September) will add a pharmacy on March 30 to better serve local patients.

New CDC data for the period from Oct.

2024 through Sept. 2025 showed West Virginia recorded 2,042 opioid overdose deaths (a 48.55% drop from 3,969) while Virginia saw a 48.88% decline, both surpassing the national decrease.

WV Healthy Start & Helping Appalachian Parents and Infants Project hosted Baby and Me Day at Meadowbrook Mall, offering vital health resources for new and expecting parents.

The event was featured by WBOY-TV and supports families statewide.

WVU baseball seeks its 18th regular-season Big 12 title as it begins a three-game series against Baylor Friday, March 13 with first pitch at 7:30 p.m. ET & the team rides a three-game win streak after a 10-3 win over Maryland.

Morgantown High’s Mohigans advanced to the Class AAAA semifinals with a 56-42 win over Cabell Midland on Thursday in Charleston, led by sophomore Sydney Deusenberry’s double-double and junior Carper Messerly’s 13 points as the team held an early lead.

Both the Morgantown and University High boys basketball teams won their regional matchups and will head to Charleston’s state tournament next week.

Morgantown, the 2-seed, will face Riverside on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. & University, the 6-seed, will meet Spring Mills in the quarterfinal round.

Stavros Halkias Live Comedy Show

7-10 p.m. — Metropolitan Theatre — Tickets available — Enjoy a night filled with unforgettable laughs from acclaimed comedian Stavros Halkias.